Vermiponics anyone?

[Michelle Silva]

Does anyone have any experience or info on having a worm only operation? I'm entertaining the idea of keeping my fish density very low, but having a lot more worms in the flood and drain that we are incorporating. Another place I could add the worms are in the large bottom pots of the vertical towers. I've noticed the strawberries and some other plants on the bottom didn't produce as well.

[Michelle Silva]

In a worm only operation, possibly diluted seaweed would be enough to add the additional needed nutrients. (?) Has anyone made their own? I'm considering this, since there is such an abundance here. I read how to do it a while back.

I have a very low stocking and the plants are all growing fairly nicely, (the cold set things back a bit,the water temp was got down to the low 30's!). I think now that tanks are better insulated they should all be OK when it gets cold again at the end of this week. Also planning to build a hoop house over them to conatin heat. They are so easy & cheap and they certainly work to keep heat in! : ) 

It would be great if I can figure a way to get these solar pool heaters to work into the system w/o additional pumps.

I have 500 strawberry plants as well, although they are fruiting they are starting to look a bit deficient..
Greener said:

I'm planning on using worm juice in my system for an extra kick.  From what I can tell, worm-only vermiponics has trouble providing enough nitrates, though I think you can otherwise get a much wider range of nutrients.  So I have decided to build my system to house the smallest number of fish that will provide a baseline level of nitrates, but I plan on having a separate worm bin to collect worm juice which I will add to my grow beds.  I don't so much like the idea of putting scraps directly in the beds, since I want to keep as many solids out of them as possible (for longest life without cleanout -- hopefully never), but adding the juice should still provide a ton of extra nutrients.  I will then use the castings from the worm bin in my wicking beds (separate).

Michelle Silva said:

Thanks. I like the idea of incorporating the food scraps into the gravel bed, but still separated, do you think it's necessary to keep it from rotting ie. banana peels break down quicker ?.. was just on the BYAP thread and noticed the pic on the (second to last page) where the guy had something similar, a small compost bin in the gravel bed and  vaguely remember seeing a you tube video..just have to find it again.

[TCLynx]

alfalfa pellets would be a quick way to feed worms and get additional nitrogen and phosphorus into the system.  Just don't use too much, they can heat up a worm bin or compost pile the same way grass clippings would.

 

I think seaweed fed to the worms would also work as a good supplement to a vermiponics situation and it would also provide extra potassium.

[Harold Sukhbir]

Hi Michelle,

I've made my own seaweed extract from ocean weed which i still add every month as a nutrient additive and as i think it improves the overall health and immunity of the plants. You can see the recipe here;

http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/making-your-own-seaweed

[Michelle Silva]

Thank you for this info. It's great.. I need to get in the habit perusing/searching all topic threads first before posting, lol

Harold Sukhbir said:

Hi Michelle,

I've made my own seaweed extract from ocean weed which i still add every month as a nutrient additive and as i think it improves the overall health and immunity of the plants. You can see the recipe here;

http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/making-your-own-seaweed

[Michelle Silva]

TC, where do you get alfalfa pellets?

TCLynx said:

alfalfa pellets would be a quick way to feed worms and get additional nitrogen and phosphorus into the system.  Just don't use too much, they can heat up a worm bin or compost pile the same way grass clippings would.

 

I think seaweed fed to the worms would also work as a good supplement to a vermiponics situation and it would also provide extra potassium.

[Michelle Silva]

OK, just looked up what they are, guess they would have them at the feed store..trying to go more natural,not sure if they would have other additives

Michelle Silva said:

TC, where do you get alfalfa pellets?

TCLynx said:

alfalfa pellets would be a quick way to feed worms and get additional nitrogen and phosphorus into the system.  Just don't use too much, they can heat up a worm bin or compost pile the same way grass clippings would.

 

I think seaweed fed to the worms would also work as a good supplement to a vermiponics situation and it would also provide extra potassium.

[Michelle Silva]

just thought of something.. why wouldn't want to use alfalfa, as the whole GMO thing now with them is going to be even a  bigger problem. It's important to me to figure out how to get fish off commercial feed. I was planning on the BSF being a component, but have to make sure temps stay consistent in their breeding area.
Michelle Silva said:

TC, where do you get alfalfa pellets?

TCLynx said:

alfalfa pellets would be a quick way to feed worms and get additional nitrogen and phosphorus into the system.  Just don't use too much, they can heat up a worm bin or compost pile the same way grass clippings would.

 

I think seaweed fed to the worms would also work as a good supplement to a vermiponics situation and it would also provide extra potassium.

[TCLynx]

at the moment the alfalfa pellets and cubes are still ok but they probably won't be for long.

 

I have seen people make pellets from grass clippings but I suppose for feeding worms, it would be easier just to feed the clippings direct.

[RupertofOZ]

Michelle.. have you read Brett Roe's work on "vermiponics"...

 

Here's his thesis... http://library-resources.cqu.edu.au/thesis/adt-QCQU/public/adt-QCQU...

 

And another write up ... http://www.hydroponics.com.au/free-articles/issue103-sustainable-aq...

 

And BYAP member "Mornings" - Jim Joyner... (A US member, I'll find his website) posted ... http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=417...

 

http://www.redwormcomposting.com/gardening/vermiponics/

[Michelle Silva]

I haven't read Brett Roe's work on it. Thanks for all the links..will them out.
RupertofOZ said:

Michelle.. have you read Brett Roe's work on "vermiponics"...

 

Here's his thesis... http://library-resources.cqu.edu.au/thesis/adt-QCQU/public/adt-QCQU...

 

And another write up ... http://www.hydroponics.com.au/free-articles/issue103-sustainable-aq...

 

And BYAP member "Mornings" - Jim Joyner... (A US member, I'll find his website) posted ... http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=417...

 

http://www.redwormcomposting.com/gardening/vermiponics/

[Two Jay]

We are setting up a Vermiponics system to mimic Jim's work.  This system will be up after our main AP system has started.  We have already bought the materials to build another small GH.

Jim is mainly running leafy greens in his system. 

[Greener]

Can anyone comment on nitrate levels in a vermiponics/worm-only system?  Can you get anywhere near the amount you get from fish?  

 

If so, it would be interesting to compare costs from both types of systems in detail.

Two Jay said:

We are setting up a Vermiponics system to mimic Jim's work.  This system will be up after our main AP system has started.  We have already bought the materials to build another small GH.

Jim is mainly running leafy greens in his system.